Splice-bar.



PATENTED JUNE 7, 1904.

A. 0. SHAND.

SPLICE BAR. APPLIOATI N ILED gm. 13. 1904.

no MODEL;

ATTORNEY.

UNITED STATES I atented Juine 1904.

PATENT OFFICE.

ALEXANDER C. SHAND, OF BALA, PENNSYLVANIA.

V I l SPLICE-BAR.

SPECIFICATION forming part or teaersmemm. 762,003, dated Jane 7, '1904.

Application filed January 13, 1904.

To all whom it may concermg Be it known that I, ALEXANDER C. SHAND,

' a citizen of the United States, residing at Bala,

of its class.

in the county of Montgomery, State of Penn.- sylvania, have invented certain new and use ful Improvements in Splice-Bars, of which the following is afull, clear, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, of which Figure 1 is a plan viewv of my splice-bar as in use. Fig. 2 is a side elevation thereof. Fig. 3 is a section on line a m, Fig. 2jthat is, on the line of the joint between the rails. Fig. 4 is a section on line 3/ y, Fig. 2, looking in the direction of line m w.

This invention relates to that class of rail splice bars having a depending stiffening flange or projection that when the splice-bar is in use projects below the foot of the rails into the space between the cross-ties.

The main object of the invention is to provide a splice-bar in which are combined greater strength and resilience than any other splicebar with which I am familiar. I

The precise nature of the invention will appear from the following description.

In the drawings, 1 denotes the splice-bars (usually made of steel;) 2, the abutting T-rails; 3, the head of the rails; 4:, the. web,and 5- the foot of the rail.

Each sjolice-baris formed with a part 6, adapted to bear against the under-side of the rail-head 3, a part 7 adapted to rest on the upper side of the foot 5, and an intermediate part 8, having holesfor the usual bolts 9, by

. which the opposite splice-bars are firmly secured to the rails. The splice-bar has" also a depending flange 10. The general construction so .far, aside from that of said flange 10, does not differ from that of othersplice-bars My invention consists of certain improvements in the form and construction of the said depending flange, as hereinafter described and particularly pointed out. I give to this flange 10 the form shown in the drawings.that is to say, the flange is bent inwardly in curvilinear form or substantially in the arc of a circle, the convexity being on Serial No, 188,893. (No model.)

I the inner side and the flange when the splicebar is in use projecting beneath the foot of the rail and its lower or free end toward or adjacent to a-vertical line passing through the web of the rail, all as more clearly seen in Figs. 3 and 4. A stiffening-rib 11 extends along the length of the free endof the outer or con cave side of the flange. The purpose of said rib (which, however, may sometimes be dispensed with) is to stiffen the flange in the direction of its length. I also make the ends of'the flange substantially at right angles to the body of the splice-bar, so that'the flange being .of-course of suitable length--by laying the cross-ties 12 so that theirsides will abut against or close to the said ends of the flange, as seen in Fig. 2, creeping of the rails will be prevented. Y i

The splice-bars are secured tothe cross-ties in the usual way-that is, by means of spikes '13, whose heads bear upon the top of the part of the splicesbar'. Preferably notches or slots are cut in the'side of the latter at the junction of part 7 and the flange 10, so as to receive the spikes, so that the latter willcorne against or close to the foot of the rail, as in Fig. 4. c

The construction of my invention being as above described, its mode of operation is as follows: When a train of cars is passing over the joint between the rails, the tendency of the strain by reason of the Weight and force of the train is to cause the flange 10 to bow inwardly-a a. to assume an arc of less radius than the normal. Consequently there obtains not only great resistance to fracture, (which fracture ordinarily is liable to take place on or about the vertical line as m, Fig. 2, through the joint between two rails,) but an elastic or resilient resistance that is distributed through the entire flange.

The cross ties being laid so as to abut against the ends of the flange 10, as seen in Fig. 2, it will be obvious that the tendency of creeping of the rails will be resisted by the ties, which are usually in earth or broken stone. 7

My splice-bar may be conveniently formed by means of suitable rolls, end portions of the flange 10 not required being subsequently cut away.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent- 1. A splice-bar for rails formed of an integral piece of suitable metal, having the part adapted to be secured to the rails, and the depending, inwardly projecting, curvilinear flange portion convex on its inner side, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

2. The splice-bar for rails formed of an integral piece of suitable metal, having the part adapted to be secured to the rails, and the depending, inwardly-projecting, currilinear flange portion, eonvex on its inner side and having on its free end the stiil'ening-ril), substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto affixed my signature this 28th day of December, A. D. 1903.

ALEXANDER U. SHANI). 

